View full sizeSadie, a 3-year-old dog from Ocean Springs, Miss., competes in the Dixie Dock Dogs contest at the Mobile Boat Show on Friday, March 18, 2011. Sadie's owner, marine biologist Melissa Cook, said her canine friend enjoys jumping off docks. The image is a still frame from a Press-Register video made during the opening moments of the 2011 boat show. (Press-Register/Mike Brantley)

Dixie Dock Dogs competition at Mobile Boat ShowMOBILE, Ala. -- Dogs from near and far compete in the three sporting disciplines at the Dixie Dock Dogs event at the Mobile Boat Show March 18-21, 2011. According to Dixie Dock Dogs President Bill Akin, big air measures the length of a jump, extreme vertical measures the height of a jump and speed retrieve clocks how fast a dog can run, jump and swim.

MOBILE, Alabama -- Whether your canine best pal is a dockside diving pro or your pup has never been near the water, you both stand a shot at glory at the Dixie Dock Dogs competition at the Mobile Boat Show this weekend. A new Press-Register video shot during the opening moments at the three-day show today will give you a feel for what it's all about.

Big air measures the length of a jump, extreme vertical measures the height of a jump, and speed retrieve clocks how fast a dog can run, jump and swim.

The competition had more than 100 registered dogs spread across nine events during the Biloxi Boat Show, and Akin expects a similar number in Mobile beginning today.

"In Biloxi, some sort of terrier jumped 4 feet to win the novice division," he said. "I'm sure there are some excellent dock-diving dogs in this area."

The Mobile Boat Show continues through Sunday at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center.

Entry fee for a dog to jump is $25 per event, payable onsite prior to any dock-diving wave (heat) during the boat show, Akin said. A portion of the proceeds will be used to support the work of the Chase Away K9 Cancer Foundation.

For more information, visit www.dixiedockdogs.com, or contact Nancy Akin at 706-540-9395 or Bill Akin at 706-540-6539.

Boat show hours are noon to 9 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $6 a day or $10 for a weekend pass, $3 for kids 7 to 12, and free for kids 6 and under.